We visited my husband's family over Christmas break (yes, I've been out of school for years but still think in terms of school calendars). While we were at church Sunday morning, I chatted with folks I hadn't seen in over a year and met a few new people. For some reason, I was extremely aware of conclusions I was drawing about these people and about the other congregants they spoke of. And as I chatted, I suddenly wondered, If Jesus were to show up today as Messiah — that first time around after people had waited centuries upon centuries for His appearance — would I see Him as a fraud?

I got to wondering what ideas I have about Jesus that I'd expect Him to fulfill. I know I've sat in smug satisfaction in the past, wondering self-righteously how the Jewish people could have overlooked Jesus as Messiah because of all the prophecies He fulfilled. It seems so obvious!

But even looking at Isaiah more closely, some of what the Jews expected (a political leader who would overthrow the Roman government) seems to be specific criteria for Messiah:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

That seems pretty specific. And I imagine many Jewish believers looked disapprovingly on the "weak" ones who "fell for Jesus" and believed Him to be Messiah. If Messiah hadn't already come and I'd known that this passage is a prophecy for Messiah, I'd have been looking at Jesus to see Him take political power.

But He didn't.

So what preconceived notions do I have of Christ that I'd want Him to fulfill? In the past, I'd have said He had to be nice, since Christians are supposed to be nice. But it doesn't sound very "nice" to compare a woman to her face to a dog (Matthew 15:21-28). I know better now ... but do I? I've had plenty of unbiblical expectations about God and His church. What do I believe about Jesus right now that isn't true? And how does that hinder fullness in my relationship with Him? Even more, how do I find those faulty ideas and remove them?

For now, I've started looking at the points in my life where I've felt that God has disappointed me. It's an eye-opening exercise, and I'll blog about some of this in the time ahead. What preconceived notions have you had about God, either past or present? How have they hindered a closer relationship with Christ? And for you, which ideas are the hardest to get past in order to see Jesus for who He really is?